WAIKATO HOSPITAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 68, Issue 5944, 17 May 1944, Page 4

WAIKATO HOSPITAL

TE AWAMUTU DISTRICT REPRESENTATION PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS Last week committees representative of the Farmers’ Union and the Chamber of Commerce discussed the question of future representation, especially with a view to avoiding a split vote in this district, as affects the northern and southern districts. It was also desired to clarify the position regarding the provision of hospital service in Te Awamutu.

Prior to the closing of nominations on Monday Messrs W. Clarke, G. T. Crawley, and S. H. Wyllie (representing the Farmers’ Union) and Messrs H. C. Date, L. G. Armstrong, and A. G. Warburton (representing the Chamber of Commerce) met in company with Messrs S. C. B. Macky, 1 G. S. Hall, and A. E. Bryant, who had been suggested as candidates for nomination for seats on the Hospital Board.

It was explained that the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday and the Farmers’ Union on Thursday had shared in a desire to assure at this election a statement of the claim for a public hospital in the district centre of Te Awamutu. Representatives of both organisations had met on Thursday, conferring with Mr G. S. Hall, who at that time was the only nominated candidate. At that meeting Mr Hall at once agreed with the idea of a further discussion with all probable candidates, so that by mutually acceptable arrangement there would be no risk of confusing the district’s vote, which in any case was only a part of a wide electorate vote. The meeting had accordingly adjourned until Monday morning.

In the discussion Mr Macky gave an outline of expenditures which resulted -from the increasing demands that were being made upon the hospitals. He also described the specialist services which were being provided at the base and which would be beyond the capacity of a smaller hospital. He agreed with the needs of Te Awamutu but urged some clearer definition of what was considered to be necessary and desirable in the circumstances.

The Farmers’ Union delegates emphasised that no part of the Waikato Hospital Board’s district had greater claim than Te Awamutu. A population of at least 10,000 people must have priority in the Board’s estimation of any claim for decentralisation.

Finally, after a general review, all three prospective candidates gave an undertaking “ that a hospital suitable for medical, maternity, and minor surgical work is necessary for Te Awamutu district in accordance with the population need, and as representatives on the Board they will strive for such establishment.”

It was generally agreed that the incidence of taxation was wrong in principle, involving all property owners in double taxation. This was equally true of the man who owned a cottage in the town as well as a farm in the country, but the meeting regarded the question of striking a rate a matter of County Council and Borough Council policy, not therefore affecting the question of representation on the Hospital Board. All three prospective candidates pledged themselves to oppose any increase in the rating levy for hospital purposes which was not proportionate with revenues through other channels. At this stage Mr G. S. Hall offered to withdraw his nomination so as not to confuse the total of votes among candidates who would represent the district’s desires as expressed in the foregoing decisions. By discussion the prospective candidates had agreed on what he regarded the two vital questions for the welfare of the electors in this district, and that was all that mattered.

The meeting cordially thanked Mr Hall for his public-spirited attitude.

After a further discussion Messrs Macky and Bryant were nominated, it being understood that when the total nominations were known, and within the statutory time, a candidate might at his own option withdraw from the election.